Preview: RSL v. San Jose Earthquakes

RSL set to continue home stand on Saturday against San Jose

May 31, 2013

RSL Communications

RealSaltLake.com

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake (6-5-3, 20 points, West #3) will continue its lengthy home stand on Saturday, when it will take on Western Conference rival the San Jose Earthquakes (3-5-6, 15 points, West #7) at 7:30 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on ABC4, ESPN700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM. ABC4 will air its 30-minute Ford Postgame Show immediately following the match; ESPN 700 will begin its pregame coverage at 6:30 p.m. MT and will air an hour-long postgame show immediately following the final whistle. Saturday’s match is the first of three consecutive league games that will be broadcast over-the-air on ABC4.

Saturday’s match will be RSL’s third in seven days. The Claret-and-Cobalt began its busy stretch last Saturday, tying the Chicago Fire 1-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium in MLS action. The team had a quick turnaround following the draw against Chicago, beating the second-division Atlanta Silverbacks 3-2 after extra time on Tuesday night in the third round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Real Salt Lake has played San Jose once this year, getting a brace from FW Alvaro Saborio to beat the ‘Quakes 2-0 at Buck Shaw Stadium in the season opener on March 3. Unfortunately for RSL, Saborio won’t have a chance to replicate that feat on Saturday, as he’ll miss the match due to a left quad strain. Both Saborio and DF Abdoulie Mansally will depart on Sunday for international duty, with Saborio joining Costa Rica and Mansally rendezvousing with Gambia for World Cup Qualifying matches.

RSL and San Jose are even in their all-time series, with the Claret-and-Cobalt posting a 6-6-5 MLS regular season record against the Bay Area side. Real Salt Lake is 2-2-4 against San Jose in Utah. RSL lost its last match against the ‘Quakes in the Beehive State, giving up a late goal to 2012 Golden Boot winner FW Chris Wondolowski to fall 2-1 to San Jose at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 23, 2012.

San Jose has started slowly this year after winning the 2012 Supporters’ Shield, currently sitting in seventh-place in the Western Conference with a 3-5-6 record. The ‘Quakes have lost three of its last four matches across all competitions and haven’t won a game since beating Toronto FC 2-1 at home on May 8. San Jose lost its last match, falling 1-0 at USL Pro side the Charleston Battery in the third round of the Open Cup on Tuesday night. San Jose would’ve faced RSL in the fourth round of the tournament had they beaten Charleston; the Claret-and-Cobalt will instead host the Battery in the fourth round on June 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The Real Salt Lake Reserves will be in action on Sunday, taking on the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves at 11:00 a.m. MT at America First Field in Sandy. Sunday’s Reserve League contest is free to attend.

RSL will return to MLS action next Saturday, June 8, when it will host the L.A. Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt will resume Open Cup action on June 12, when it will host the Charleston Battery in the fourth round of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to both matches are still available and can be purchased online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets, at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake v. San Jose Earthquakes

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah

TV: ABC4 (Ford Postgame Show to immediately follow final whistle)

English Radio: ESPN700 AM (Pregame begins at 6:30 p.m. MT)

Spanish Radio: La Gran D 102.3 FM & Juan 1600 AM

Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide live match updates

Real Salt Lake is 6-6-5 all-time in MLS regular season play against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Claret-and-Cobalt is 2-2-4 against the ‘Quakes in Utah, losing its last match against the Bay Area side in the Beehive State 2-1 on June 23, 2012.

RSL and San Jose have met once already this year, with the Claret-and-Cobalt getting a second half brace from FW Alvaro Saborio to down the 2012 Supporters’ Shield winners 2-0 at Buck Shaw Stadium in the season opener on March 3.